"Natsu, you wouldn't believe the size of this guy!" Lucy exclaimed, her arms stretched wide on either side of her, blowing up Gajeel's proportions, but to her small form, he had appeared huge.

"Man, I shoulda' been there! I coulda' totally taken him down!" That was Natsu, always wanting to show off he was the toughest man about, Erza won the vote for toughest person, even he couldn't take that claim away from her.

"You didn't need to, Levy was tough as nails standing up for her friends." Lucy was happy the guy didn't try to even lay a finger on Levy, there would have been outcry in Fairy Tail if it had have happened. The pair were once more swinging arms up and down as they playfully walked in a brisk through the markets.

"Levy's great, we should get some dinner, I'm starved." Lucy didn't want to mention how he had just had a large lunch, and even she was still a little stuffed from simply sharing the food, but she knew she wouldn't be able to tear Natsu away from this.

"There's a cute restaurant up ahead, 'Blue Pegasus', what about there?" Natsu knew he didn't want to go there exclusively, it was one of those prestigious places in which portion sizes were, for some ungodly reason, were a quarter of the size than they should have been. He knew he would have argued with Lucy, his best friend, and taken her to another place he knew where they could have eaten a buffet for half the price. But this wasn't Lucy, his best friend, this was Lucy, his date.

"Yeah, let's go." He said, attempting to hide his grumble as they walked into the fine establishment. Lucy was in awe of the sight around her, this was where they should have gone on their first date, it was extravagant! She saw all the people around her wearing dresses and suits, and seemed to shuffle back, feeling underdressed.

Natsu was not allowing her to back out now, he pulled her forward, their hands still clasped as he waved to the server at the front counter. "Hey Miss, any chance of a table for two?" Natsu asked, looking around at the busy atmosphere that the restaurant had.

"Oh? A walk in, we normal ask guests to book ahead…" She trailed off, Natsu wanted to treat Lucy, she deserved the very best and if she didn't have a guy before get to lavish here to places like this, then it would be Natsu's job to make sure she had the finest time.

"Hush Jenny, we cannot stand in the way of young love! I know a spare table!" The server looked over and nodded, a larger weighted man pranced over to them and Jenny smiled at her, presumably, manager. The man wore a fine dress and wore a matching black blazer as they followed him to a secluded section in the back, an area more reserved for VIPs of the restaurant. Lucy couldn't help but feel a little spoiled that the kind manager had done this favour to them, she thanked him as he told them a waiter would bring menus over shortly.

Lucy and Natsu grinned at each other, looking around the ruby columns and dazzling chandeliers, it felt like being in a mansion again.

"I wonder what beauty must have caught Bob's eye, but I can see surely, it must be you." Lucy looked from the surroundings to a man who had walked over, his formal attire suggesting to her he was her waiter, Natsu was already having grabby hands towards the menus.

She didn't know how to reply as he calmly placed the menus down in front of them and gazed back at Lucy. "May the fine lady be having a dash of red or white tonight?" Lucy blushed at his tone and looked to Natsu who didn't seem at all interested, he was drooling at the food items.

"Red, please. Natsu?" She called, "Would you like a glass of wine?"

"Whatever you're having will do." He said, dropping his menu down and finally acknowledging the waiter himself. "Hey…Hibiki," he said as he looked at the man's name badge "why did we get a spot here when we didn't have a reservation?" The man smiled at Natsu and flaunted a hand in the arm, as though he was about to perform a salsa.

"Why, Master Bob adores young couples, he always wants to treat everyone to a night at Blue Pegasus." Natsu looked to Lucy and silently, they were able to be agree that this man was slightly over the top, it seemed to be the norm here however. "I'll be back shortly with your drinks while you look over the menus." He left swiftly, ushering a wink to Lucy before he left.

"Lucy, have you seen the size of the steaks they serve!" Natsu looked at her as though he was in heaven, every bad thought he had about this place was gone as he was now able to see just what luxuries they had.

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself." She chuckled, looking down at the menu herself, it was true they had fine cuisines, but Lucy couldn't help but notice the price tag on many of the items were also extravagant, she was glad she was only paying for half.

"How's the novel coming along?" Natsu asked, placing the menu back down on table to let it lay.

"Good! I sat under this huge tree and just watched the stars, it truly was beautiful." Lucy hummed, remembering that she had managed to write a few more pages when she had returned home. She heard a vibration call out as Natsu looked to his phone and ended the noise.

"Unknown number." He explained and went back to listening about her novel. Before Lucy could even begin to explain what she had managed to write, his phone went off again.

"Might be easy to just answer it." She said, watching as he pressed accept on the call.

"Hello?" He answered, brash and loud. Lucy groaned as the guests of the restaurant were now staring at them, she tried to look down at her menu and ignore the beading eyes of the room glaring daggers at her date. "What?" Lucy had only heard Natsu that serious a few times in her life, it caused alarm bells in her body.

She watched as the life drained from his face, and he suddenly looked pale and lost for words. She wanted to ask if he was okay, but she didn't know if he was ready to be taken away from the phone call. Hibiki pranced over with their drinks and Natsu looked apologetic to her. "I'm going to finish this outside, I'll be back soon." He whispered, worried he'd offended her, but Lucy smiled and nodded, this call seemed important.

"Everything all right?" Hibiki asked, a constant smile plastered on his face, she didn't know if it was just because he was on shift or not.

"Yeah, just an important call he had to take." She explained.

"I'll come back to your orders when he's returned." And he left her, now alone at the table.

"Tough break." She wasn't sure if that voice had been talking about, so she chanced herself to look behind her, and sure enough the person sitting next to her had turned his body around to face her.

"It's nothing." She simply commented and turned back to look at the empty chair in front of her.

"First date?" The voice asked, it had a pearly undertone, silky and smooth, yet she was bothered he was still talking to her.

"None of your business." She ushered to him, not even turning around again to face him.

"You are right. I apologise, I will not say anymore." She sighed and smiled to herself that thankfully she would be left alone now. "Actually, it is going to bother me if I do not." Lucy scoffed and with that, did allow herself to turn around and take a look at the man who was bothering her.

He was much like the other guest, adorned in a fine suit which fitted his body perfectly, no doubt it was tailored to his fit only. She had once thought Natsu had the messiest lock of hair she had ever seen, but this man was making her rethink that statement. Orange-flamed spikes protruded out forming a mane around his face, it was odd to see just a fancy figure who such unruly hair.

"Maybe you should worry about your own date." She challenged back at him, nodding over to the woman who was clearly not amused by her date's antics of interacting with another woman. Her arms were crossed around her chest, as her face distained as she glared at the redhead.

"Loke, seriously? I've been trying to take you out for months!" She sneered at him, Lucy saw the man, Loke, look sorry at her as he was forced to turn away from her and return back to his own date. Lucy couldn't help but eavesdrop, after all, it was only fair she returned the favour on him.

"You are right, Gretel, my full attention is yours once more." Lucy felt sick as she heard the woman coo right back into Loke's charm, how could she allow him back in her good books just that quickly?

Lucy knew she was being rude, but she did at least try to hide her chuckles and not to have the attention spurred on her again. No luck. He turned over again, she knew this because she heard a feminine 'huff' once more.

"You have an adorable laugh, why hide it?" She turned to look at him again, raising an eyebrow at his feeble attempt at flirtation. It seemed to rile up the other woman, Gretel, as she took off and left the pair alone. Now, Lucy did not hold back as she laughed straight in front of him. "What is it?" He asked, finding her laugh infectious as he smiled back, finding himself wanting to be in on the joke.

"Gretel? Really? Does she have a brother called Hansel?" She watched as the man stared blankly at her before he finally caught onto the joke and chuckled lowly at her humour. She watched as remarkably the man didn't have any prominent laughter lines paint his face as he snickered.

"You win, Princess." Lucy was taken aback by the nickname, she had only just made one joke with him and he was already endearing her, she would quickly have to stop him. "I will go out with you." Lucy blinked at him, and motioned to the other seat opposite her, unfortunately it was still empty.

"I'm literally on a date right now." She was unimpressed and could easily tell Loke was used to getting his way with woman, used to not having any problem getting just what and who he wanted. Well, unfortunately for him, Lucy wasn't about to be his new floozy.

"At least give me the privilege of knowing your name."

"Luigi." She watched him look away and bite his lip as he smiled at her comment

"I'm Ronald McDonald." He joked back and held a hand out to her, she saw two rings on his fingers, one gold, one silver. She wondered if they were special to him, or if he wore them because of the price tag they came with.

"Ah, too late. Your date already confessed your name is Loke." She smirked back at him, though she did allow him to shake her hand. She didn't allow herself to look at him intently, she knew he was handsome, but she didn't dare start to notice the details of his face.

"Lucy." At the sound of her real name, she turned around and saw Natsu had returned, she stood up and went to him as she noticed he was shaking.

"Natsu! What happened?" She asked, the worry she had was clear in her voice.

"I'm not feeling well." Lucy knew it looked that way. He was pale and shaking, he could have passed for being ill very well. But Lucy knew Natsu, she knew there was something bouncing in his voice, he was lying. She knew he wouldn't have just casually lied to her over nothing, something serious must have happened, though she wished he didn't hide it from her.

"Why don't we catch up later, or tomorrow, when you're feeling better?" Natsu looked relieved, believing she had bought it, he opened his wallet to pay for the wine when a familiar voice stepped in.

"No worries, friend, I got it. Lucy helped me get out of a sticky situation, so think of this as a thank-you." Natsu looked over Lucy at the taller man who had brushed himself up next to her in order to drop down a few bills to cover the expenses. Natsu, oblivious as ever, gave the unknown man a toothy grin alongside a thumbs-up.

"You're the best!" Lucy smiled at Natsu and gave him a hug. "Want me to walk you home?" He asked politely, and Lucy shook her head.

"I'm going to stop by the park and try writing some more."

"Okay, be safe!" He called out as he kissed her cheek and practically sprinted out of the venue. Lucy felt her stomach drop as she watched him go, she had never known Natsu to act so strangely before, she would have to ask Erza about this later. If anyone could get the dragon-brained idiot to confess what was up, it was her.

"Lucy, huh?"

She watched as the man moved around the table to sit himself down in Natsu's abandoned chair.

"Yeah, like 'Lucy in the sky with diamonds'." She said softly, though she made no motion to re-sit back down.

"You are the diamond." She couldn't help the burst of laughter that escaped her.

"Ooh, weak line."

"Yeah, it only works on Lucy's." She rolled her eyes and grabbed for her bag, she had no intention of continuing to amuse him. "Looks like I get my date." He mused, and Lucy stared at him and threw the handbag around her shoulder with an attitude.

"No date, I'm heading to the park." He stood up as she made the move to leave and placed his hands together, in a praying motion, Lucy wondered if the reason this guy got dates was more due to his relentless stubbornness to not give up.

"No date." He confirmed, raising Lucy's suspicion. "But, you do deserve dinner. Look, you got a table at this place, people normally have to wait months. Consider this 'hanging out' and let me treat you to dinner." Lucy had to admit, the idea sounded pleasant. She would never take advantage of her friends, hence why with Natsu they went half on any expenses, but a complete stranger who wanted to buy her food at a posh restaurant? Lucy could already feel a smirk on her face.

"Just this once." She confirmed and watched as like a puppy, he excitedly ran past her to pull out her chair. "This isn't a date." Lucy stared at him, ushering to the gesture.

"Of course not, I am simply a gentleman." He watched as Lucy rolled her eyes and the pair of them sat down.

"Does a gentleman usually ignore his date to talk to another woman, in front of her I may add?" The man looked sheepish at the accusation and shrugged his shoulders as he stared at her.

"Fine, that was a dick move, but she knew I did not like her, I have been avoiding her for months." Lucy did recall the woman had announced she had tried to ask him out many times, was she really that desperate to go out with this man. "What about you, why you out here with Pinky?"

"Natsu is my best friend, we recently decided to try dating." She watched as Loke's face seemed to scrunch up, but quickly relaxed, attempting to recompose himself from showing the emotion.

"Never works." He said, and Lucy poked his arm to have him continue. "You are best friends for a reason, and you're also not dating for a reason." He explained to which left Lucy a little lost.

"But we are dating?"

"Only to try, you see best friends eventually down the line will try to date because the thought of 'something more' is always there, once you go down that line you realise you were better off as best friends."

"You're a love-expert, huh?"

"The one and only. I know a lot about flirting and lust more than love." Lucy thought to herself, Natsu didn't really know much about that stuff either, she wondered if Loke could be a missing link.

"Hmm."

"Hmm?" He gazed at her, and she protruded a notepad out from her handbag and pointed to it.

"I'm writing a romance novel, I was wondering if you'd be able to help me figure out how to write all those feelings?" She asked, hoping that the thought didn't look too much like a promiscuous offer.

"A writer? I like it." He smiled, leaning back in his seat as he waved Hibiki back over. "Hibiki, the chef's specials for both myself and Lucy tonight, we have much to discuss." Lucy wondered just what she got herself into with this chance meeting.

"Absolutely, Mr. King." King, the surname was familiar to Lucy; but she couldn't place it.

He refused to talk about it over dinner but promised they would meet up again the next day and he would help her with any questions she might have. Lucy was wary of him, most indefinitely, but he seemed to want to meet up at a public place, so she figured she would take the chance and hope he wasn't a murderer.